Mark Cheplowitz

Mark Cheplowitz is Founder and President of Manhattan, New York based Wizard of Ahs and Cleveland, Ohio based Soundsation Entertainment Services. The firm was established in 1980 when Cheplowitz recognized a need in the entertainment industry for a consumer-oriented business. He turned his idea into an international multi-million dollar event logistics, management, production, and entertainment booking company, all the while maintaining a personal touch.

Internationally recognized for his creative and unique presentations, Cheplowitz accepted invitations to work as Creative Consultant for the Super Bowl, Orange Bowl, Gator Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, and Monday Night Football Pre-game, Halftime, and Post-game shows. He has also been local Logistics Coordinator for White House Presidential and Vice Presidential visits. Cheplowitz twice received the prestigious “Weatherhead 100” award, recognizing his company as one of the fastest growing companies in Northern Ohio. Cheplowitz was one of seven judges selected to review New York and Chicago EMMY submissions for “Event Coverage” and “Entertainment Specials” categories. In addition, Cheplowitz’s work has received numerous EMMY awards and nominations. In 1996, Cheplowitz was awarded the prestigious Governor’s Award (a next-level EMMY,) presented by the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences in recognition of his work coordinating international and national media during the grand opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. In 2000 & 2006, Mr. Cheplowitz was nominated as Producer of the Year by Events Solutions Magazine. He is also a published author and internationally recognized speaker. His article appeared on Entrepreneur.com and on Career Builder.com websites as a feature in their “Employer Advice” column, and has written numerous articles for trade publications, such as Exhibitor Magazine. He is also a regular contributing writer for PR Week. Most recently (2010), Mr. Cheplowitz was quoted in Inc. Magazine’s article “How to Plan a Product Launch Event.”

Over 30 years, Cheplowitz has produced, given technical and creative support to hundreds of events in cities around the world. Highlights include being named Grand Opening Producer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, National Inventor’s Hall of Fame, Spirit of Ford, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Great Lakes Science Center; State (Olympics) Games Opening Ceremonies Producer for Ohio, Connecticut, Mississippi, Virginia, North Carolina, Montana, and Missouri; Producer of the ITU World Triathlon featuring participants from 86 countries, Junior Olympics, and Continental Cup International Soccer Tournament Opening Ceremonies, International Children’s Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Junior World Championships, and the Triathlon Amateur Championships in Mission Viejo, California; Entertainment Coordinator and Producer for the NBA All-Star Game festivities and MLB All-Star and World Series events. Cheplowitz has also produced numerous musical stadium concerts, featuring entertainers such as Ringo Starr and Aretha Franklin, as well as keynote shows as diverse as Richard Simmons and the late Christopher Reeve.

Internationally, Cheplowitz was Creative Consultant at the IAA Motorcar Show in Frankfurt, Germany, the Grand Opening of Opel’s World Headquarters in Russelsheim, Germany; and Sea Trek 2001, a tall-ship festival and pilgrimage in Copenhagen, Denmark, Gothenburg, Sweden, Oslo, Norway, Glasgow, Scotland, and Liverpool and Kingston Upon Hull, England; worked on The St. Maarten Regatta and the International Jazz Festival in St. Lucia; and directed live video coverage for corporate PR Events in Sydney, Australia, Taipei, Taiwan, and Tokyo, Japan.

Domestically, Cheplowitz was the Producer of the American Red Cross and United Way National Conventions; Producer for new product roll-outs, annual meetings, and national sales conventions for Progressive Insurance, Rockwell International, Time Warner, Cover Girl, Coppertone, Kohl’s , Vitamix, and Glad (plastic bags.)

Recent highlights include producing Cosmopolitan Magazine’s Record Breaking Bikini Bash World Record attempt on South Beach in Miami and viral video stunt in Las Vegas (4M hits in 10 days: #1 on Advertising Age’s Viral Video Chart); National Football League’s Executive Office Summer Picnic in Giant’s Stadium, various events for LeBron James and his foundation, International Children’s Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies featuring athletes from 58 countries, Coppertone’s Summer Launch with Pat Benetar, Cover Girl launch with Queen Latifa, the first ever national touring outdoor golf festival for Cox Communications, and the 25th Anniversary of Ronald McDonald House, which won “Top 10 Events” by a regional publication. Cheplowitz was also a paid consultant to First Flight Centennial Foundation, designing numerous events commemorating the first powered airplane flight by the Wright Brothers. Cheplowitz also produces the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony and Hall of Fame Game Halftime Show (NBC Sunday Night Football, formerly ABC Monday Night Football.) Finally, Cheplowitz produced an emotional and moving ceremony in New York City for government and business leaders of Akron, Ohio when they presented keys to a donated aerial ladder fire truck, two ambulances, and three police cars to the City of New York in the wake of the September 11 tragedy.

On a civic level, he is the former Chairman of Portage County, Ohio Bicentennial, and former Honorary Chairman of Blossom Time in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Co-Chairman of the Aurora, Ohio Bicentennial, Ward 2 City Councilman, member of Cleveland’s Millennium Steering Committee, and Trustee and Past President of Portage County Regional Airport Authority Board of Trustees. As an accomplished pilot and former member of AirLifeLine/AngelFlight, he donated his time and aircraft costs to fly patients in need of medical treatment to various treatment centers throughout the United States.